The Comics History of Billy and Tommy

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When your mother is the Scarlet Witch, there is a strong chance that your comic history will be eventful and reasonably messy. Billy and Tommy, AKA the Young Avengers Wiccan and Speed, are certainly frontrunners for having one of the most tumultuous origin stories in all of Marveldom. The love children of the reality-altering Wanda Maximoff and the synthezoid Vision are now Super Heroes in their own right, and their road to get there has been fraught with demons. In some cases, literally.

BILLY AND TOMMY’S BIRTH

Wanda Maximoff desired nothing more than an everyday life with her husband, fellow Avenger Vision, so she had a surprisingly normal childbirth. And by normal we do mean “mystical.” But to Wanda and Vizh at the time, finding out that she was carrying twins was actually the least eventful thing to happen that day. While Wanda worked through her breathing exercises in the final issue of the couple’s solo series to bring Billy and Tommy into the world, her brother-in-law Wonder Man and father Magneto teamed up to keep the Grim Reaper, Nekra, and a zombified Simon Williams from interrupting.

And of course Doctor Strange was on hand to deliver.

WHAT IS THEIR CONNECTION TO MEPHISTO?

Master Pandemonium was a Hollywood executive who got into a near-fatal car wreck that tore off his right arm. Why is this relevant? Well, since hell-lord Mephisto is never one to pass up an opportunity to collect a soul, he shows up to the wreckage to replace Master Pandemonium's arms with “demons” in exchange for his soul. Demons that look an awful lot like twin baby boys.

REABSORPTION BY MEPHISTO

As Wanda painfully realizes, magic has its consequences. And Billy and Tommy paid the ultimate price for being the manifestations of their mother’s desires. Even before Master Pandemonium showed up to do Mephisto’s dirty work, family friend and fellow witch Agatha Harkness had her doubts about the children’s existence and Wanda’s ability to spin life out of thin air.

Immediately after their reabsorption by Mephisto via Pandemonium, Scarlet Witch taught the world that she means business when it comes to her children. It was also the moment that set off an anomaly many years later, and became the source of Agatha’s regret over using a spell to “erase” Wanda’s children from memory.

ENTER THE HOUSE OF M

In a new world reality that Wanda was convinced to create by her brother Quicksilver, Billy and Tommy were resurrected as the apples in their mom’s eyes. It’s a great reality until it's not though since Wolverine begins to uncover past life memories from his main timeline’s existence. Logan’s “total recall” moment sets in motion recovered memories for several other heroes, which brings everyone to Wanda’s doorstep demanding answers. From there, three infamous little words were all it took to restructure the fabric of reality and the core of the Marvel Universe.

YOUNGER AVENGERS

In a bit of a plot twist, Billy and Tommy’s souls were not destroyed once Mephisto reabsorbed them! Instead, they overpowered him thanks to their mother’s influence and love. Their freed souls come into existence years later to different parents, but make no mistake: Billy and Tommy are still their mother’s children. Iron Lad’s efforts to prevent himself from becoming Kang the Conqueror didn’t just lead to the creation of the Young Avengers—it also led to reuniting the once lost twin brothers. Read the complete run where Speed the speedster and Wiccan the witch become incredible teen heroes!

THE SEARCH FOR MOM

Apparently, the Avengers learned absolutely nothing from their mishandling of the “Scarlet Witch situation,” as they call it. They freak out the moment that Billy’s hex powers prove to be just as powerful if not more potent than his mother's. It becomes a family and friend affair in AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE (2010), as Magneto, Quicksilver, and the rest of the Young Avengers set out to find the missing Scarlet Witch. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the X-Men learn the full (frightening) extent of Wanda’s reach.

ALL GROWN UP

So, where are the kids today? Thankfully, they’re functioning adults and in loving relationships! Following a second stint as Young Avengers and even “Avengers” Avengers, Billy and Tommy are now bona fide A-team. Wiccan and teammate Hulkling tied the knot in space in EMPYRE (2020) #4. Speed is also in a (recently) confirmed relationship with former New X-Man Prodigy. See their spark in LORDS OF EMPYRE: EMPEROR HULKLING (2020) #1, and pick up with X-FACTOR (2020) for more of this new Marvel item!

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